Associated British Ports (ABP) is celebrating the success of ‘TURBO-METH’, a clean technology project which has secured funding as part of the Department for Transport’s ‘Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) 6’.
The project will involve working towards a trial of green methanol production technology pioneered by PuriFire Energy, in collaboration with Shoreham Port, Newcastle University, the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and a range of other organisations.
Through this project, port operators such as ABP will gain deeper insights into bio-methanol logistics and bunkering for larger-scale applications, on-site production and end-user demand.
Ralph Windeatt, ABP Group Head of Business Development, said: “Our ports are already at the forefront of maritime decarbonisation as we play a pivotal role in enabling the energy transition.
“We are excited to support this project and look forward to working with consortium partners and our customers to evaluate our other port locations and help lay the foundations for a sustainable future.”
ABP’s involvement in the project has included being part of a consortium of partners working on successful proposals for two maritime decarbonisation projects.
The project will aim to evaluate the viability, environmental benefits, and cost-effectiveness of PuriFire’s technology in relation to helping decarbonise the UK and aligning with global decarbonisation goals.
The main goal is to confirm the technology’s readiness for wider use, enhance efficiency, and facilitate wider adoption of green methanol as a maritime fuel to reduce GHG emissions.
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Neel Shah, CEO PuriFire Energy, commented: “Our purpose is to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy by providing green methanol solutions.
“We are committed to scaling our portfolio of unique technologies, while minimising environmental impact, driving positive change, and creating value for our stakeholders.”
The start of ABP’s collaboration with PuriFire Energy can be traced back to the startup’s involvement in ABP’s Energy Ventures Accelerator (EVA) – a pioneering initiative launched by ABP in June 2024 to help enable the energy transition. Since the launch of EVA, ABP has engaged with over 300 startups and investors across the clean energy spectrum.
The CMDC Round 6 exists to fund pre-deployment trials and feasibility studies into clean maritime technologies and skills that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Having opened for entries in January 2025, the competition offered innovative organisations the chance to apply for a share of up to £30 million ($40.5 million) of funding.
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David Cooper, Partnership Manager for Clean Maritime at ORE Catapult, added: “The UK’s Department for Transport has demonstrated global leadership in advancing clean maritime innovation.
“With recent announcements from the International Maritime Organisation, the trajectory towards decarbonisation is now unmistakable. While the future fuel mix remains uncertain, pioneering projects like this are vital to shaping that future.
“At ORE Catapult we’re committed to contributing our market insight to help identify what could power the offshore renewable energy fleet, a key maritime sector, in the years ahead.”
Late last year, ABP acquired 21 acres of land on the western side of the Port of Immingham in an off-market transaction.
